Inspirational Cyclists need urgent help, Portland OR area

[Tuckervill]

I have been following the trek of Priscilla and Morton who are cycling around the perimeter of the US. They did the coast from Key West to Main earlier this summer, and they started their second leg in Portland yesterday morning. You can read all about them at littlechanges.com. Please, if you have anything to offer, a place to stay, a little cash, (both urgent needs) or transportation home, please contact them at littlechanges.com. (thanks to whomever at TE posted this link months ago. My life has been changed in little ways because of it.) The email address is priscilla at that domain. Here's their plea for help.

Hello,

We just had our first bit of really bad luck. We were leaving Portland, Oregon and my bicycle fell over. After two hours in the emergency room, I find out I have a sprained ankle and knee and have to go for an MRI in 7 days to decide if I need surgery or not. The doctor said my knee and ankle need several months of NOT riding the bicycle.

We are in the Holiday Inn, Portland-Downtown, for tonight, not sure of what tomorrow is going to bring. We are faced with the dilema of what to do, whether we should go BACK to Pennsylvania or not and lack of funds. Morton has two whole cents in his pocket and we have about $160. in the bank.

The great news is that the doctor who treated me in the emergency room is seeing to it that my bill is taken care of. We are so thrilled about that. The other great news is that my knee WILL get better and the ride WILL go on in a few months.

At the moment I'm using my laptop to try to figure out WHAT to do and to warm my knee with. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

Priscilla
www.LittleChanges.com

[Tri Girl]

I just spent waaaayyy too much time on that site and will go back later and spend waaaayyyy too much time again.
What a great journey, and what an inspiration. She's already lost a lot of weight, and will surely lose it all by the end of their journey. I'll have to keep up on their progress. Really cool t-shirt, too. I may have to buy one!

Hope she heals soon!

Thanks for posting about this- gives me another blog to read. :D

[KnottedYet]

Oh, wow...

[Tuckervill]

If you can't help out in Portland, please consider buying something from their website, like the t-shirts or the sea glass pendants.

Morton has even attached ribbons to the lucky pennies he's found along the roadside, and they are selling those, too.

I'm not usually the type to give money to strangers or panhandlers. Sometimes I've been in awe of the naivete of this couple. I wonder why the did some things. But then I think of the sheer audacity it takes to walk around the country--starting out when you weigh ~400 lbs. She's so open about her struggles, and there is something sweet, sincere and genuine in her spirit that just draws me to her. She's nothing if not persistent. That's what keeps me coming back to the site, and offering my ideas and makes me willingly part with the pittance I have.

If you can't just give money, buy something from their website. If you have connections for a place for them stay in the area, please let them know. If you can't do that at least send good vibes their way?

Karen

[KnottedYet]

Sounds like they're taking the train home to Pennsylvania now.

[Tuckervill]

Oh good! I haven't been able to get back on since this morning.

Karen